The ProLon diet, a five-day fasting mimicking diet (FMD), has gained popularity for its potential to promote weight loss, improve metabolic health, and even slow down aging. Developed by Dr. Valter Longo, a renowned longevity researcher at USC, ProLon is designed to provide the benefits of fasting without the need to completely abstain from food. This article delves into the ProLon diet, exploring its origins, benefits, potential drawbacks, and practical tips for those considering this unique approach to health and wellness.
What is the ProLon “Fasting Mimicking Diet?”
The ProLon diet is a structured, five-day meal program designed to mimic the effects of fasting while still providing the body with essential nutrients. It's a dietary regimen composed of macronutrients and micronutrients, with minimal calorie restriction, designed to trigger a response akin to fasting. This approach allows individuals to experience the potential benefits of fasting, such as cellular repair and regeneration, without the challenges and potential risks associated with traditional water-only fasts.
ProLon is a fasting mimicking diet (FMD), which typically refers to a diet that contains no animal protein, low amounts of plant protein, very low amounts of saturated fat, high amounts of unsaturated fats, very low amounts of sugars, and high amounts of complex carbohydrates.
Why was ProLon Invented?
Dr. Valter Longo initially designed ProLon to support people undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer. His work on intermittent fasting and fasting-mimicking diets (FMD) has focused largely on using fasting to enhance cancer treatment and mitigate the negative impact of chemotherapy, with considerable success. Intermittent fasting has been found to reduce levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Lowering levels of IGF-1 can enhance the resistance of normal cells to chemotherapy-dependent damage while simultaneously increasing the susceptibility of a large number of tumors to chemo and radiotherapy.
While ProLon was initially developed for cancer patients, it is now being used and researched for its potential anti-aging benefits and overall wellness promotion in healthier individuals.
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ProLon Pros
- Convenience: ProLon is designed to take the headache out of fasting. Everything you can eat is delivered conveniently to you in five boxes so it’s very difficult to cheat. The product packaging is easy on the eye and the food, by most accounts, tastes pretty delicious!
- Simplicity: ProLon makes it super simple to give fasting a try without having to worry about malnutrition. The food is pre-packaged, eliminating the need for meal planning and preparation.
- Research-Backed: There has been years of development and trials with this particular product. Because it’s a clearly formulated product it can be used more easily in trials which might provide evidence for fasting as a lifestyle option instead of medication in clinically appropriate settings.
- Potential Health Benefits: Aside from its likely benefits for anyone undergoing cancer treatment, there may well be some considerable benefits for healthier individuals as well as those with immune system problems. ProLon may help with weight loss, improved cholesterol levels, and increased energy.
- Mindset Shift: One interesting additional benefit of ProLon is that it seems to make a person reassess their relationship to food (and alcohol!). After ‘fasting’ for five days, you’ll probably think harder about everything you put in your mouth. Smaller portion sizes may suddenly seem much more reasonable, and you’re likely to be better at forgoing snacks and foods that were unhealthy habits.
Potential Drawbacks
- Cost: The ProLon kit can be expensive, costing around $300 per box or $750 for three boxes.
- Taste and Texture: The food primarily consists of powdered soups, nut bars, and olives, which may not appeal to everyone. The food that I have the toughest time with during the FMD, are the soups. Everyday of the fast has at least some soup, which is powdered. You can’t just drop a soup in and pur water over it, either. That will result in lumps.
- Potential Side Effects: Some individuals may experience headaches, fatigue, and other side effects during the fast.
- Uric Acid Levels: Fasting, including fasting mimicking diets, increase uric acid levels. It is also crucial to drink plenty of water during a ProLon fast.
A Day-by-Day Breakdown of the ProLon Experience
The ProLon diet is structured with specific meals and snacks for each of the five days. Here's a general overview of what to expect:
- Day 1: The first day typically involves consuming around 1,100 calories, consisting of nut bars, soups, olives, and herbal teas. Although day 1 is one of the highest calorie days, it starts to dawn on you what you have signed up for. Your body isn’t yet in ketosis, and heading to bed without dinner feels abnormal, even a little depressing.
- Days 2-5: These days involve a lower calorie intake, around 700-800 calories per day, with a focus on soups, olives, crackers, and small dessert bars.
Personal Experiences with ProLon
Many individuals have shared their experiences with the ProLon diet, highlighting both the challenges and the rewards. Some have reported feeling more energetic, clear-headed, and lighter after completing the five-day program. Others have noted a change in their relationship with food, leading to healthier eating habits and smaller portion sizes.
Completing a ProLon fast is not easy. Lasting the full five days on a severely calorie restricted diet becomes harder the longer into the week you go. I find that by day 5 I am exhausted with the protocol, and vey tired of the powdered soups in particular. Each time I have done ProLon, I am tempted to end the fast on the evening of day five, but instead head to bed again without dinner and wait for the morning of day 6 to break my fast by slowly introducing small portions of gentle on the stomach plant foods, like oats or sweet potato soup. However, when I wake up on day 2, things settle, and some of the euphoria people report on ProLon starts to kick in. The elevated mood, and energy boost associated with fasting is a real phenomenon that I have experienced first-hand each time I have tried ProLon.
Practical Tips for a Successful ProLon Experience
- Plan Ahead: Choose a five-day period when you can minimize social events and strenuous activities. Most people can choose any five-day period for the diet, so they can avoid big social events or strenuous athletic activities.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help manage hunger and support detoxification.
- Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how you feel and adjust your activity levels accordingly.
- Prepare for Potential Side Effects: Be aware that you may experience headaches, fatigue, or other side effects, especially during the first few days.
- Break the Fast Gently: On day 6, gradually reintroduce normal foods, starting with small portions of easily digestible options. On Day 6, enjoy that first sip of coffee or that first meal - it will taste unbelievably amazing. You will feel nothing but gratitude for the food you’re about to enjoy.
ProLon and Uric Acid Levels
Fasting, including fasting mimicking diets, increase uric acid levels. One of the things I have learned building Gene Food, is that I have increased risk for elevated levels of uric acid based on my genetics. That risk is compounded by the fact that we live in a high altitude environment, which exacerbates the problem. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to get a before and after blood draw when doing ProLon, but I did have my blood drawn immediately after completing a ProLon kit, and did see elevated uric acid. I try to mitigate some of the increase in uric acid levels during ProLon by taking quercetin, which is a supplement that can help make urin more alkaline, which in turn, helps the body get rid of more uric acid. It is also crucial to drink plenty of water during a ProLon fast.
Alternatives to ProLon
Interested in a mimicking fasting diet but don’t want to try ProLon? Your best bet is to work with a qualified nutritionist. That’s because trying to design your own is liable to lead to dangerously low blood pressure, blood glucose, palpitations, and other possibly fatal complications. This isn’t just marketing hype.
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Long-Term Strategies
Depending on your goals, you can complete this program safely once a month and then transition to whenever you feel you need it again. Back in 2019, I did it for a few months in a row, then every other month before switching to a seasonal approach: right after New Years, springtime, and early fall. And I’m getting ready for round 14, which I’ll start the day after my birthday.
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